Valkyria Chronicles is one of those hidden gems from the early-ish days of the PS3; a strategy-RPG with third-person shooter controls and stunning anime styling. If you’re into any of those genres (or World War II, for that matter), I highly recommend you procure a copy.

While Valkyria Chronicles didn’t top the sales charts, it inspired intense fandom among many who played it (be prepared to open your wallet wide if you want to get ahold of the detailed Valkyria figurines coming out of Japan). Like many of these fans, I’m particularly excited about the prospect of carrying the game’s sequel with me for most of the 2nd half of this year.

So I took the short trip to Sega’s US HQ to play an English build of Valkyria Chronicles 2 for PSP, and report back to you. VC2 may be shrunk down to portability, but there are significant advancements in this sequel, including multiplayer.

We’ll have more details on Valkyria Chronicles II soon.

Remember playing Earthworm Jim during the glorious 16-bit era? How about battling Major Mucus and Evil the Cat? Or saving Princess What’s-Her-Name?

If you don’t recall ever playing Earthworm Jim, I can only shake my head with utter sorrow. Who else but an ordinary earthworm can transcend fleeing from crows and eating dirt to become a mutated superhero?

Cue the dramatic music.

Get your Plasma Baster ready for some trigger happy times in the sweet world of high definition graphics — thanks to the amazing team at Gameloft, they’ve given all the original levels in the single-player campaign a healthy HD face-lift. As an added bonus, you’ll discover three exclusive levels which you can now venture through in a never-before-seen setting.

Not one for solo adventures? Gameloft has you covered. Earthworm Jim HD offers local and online 2-4 player co-op gameplay in 15 multiplayer levels! You can also team up with your buddies to (you know) launch cows or madly whip space ships.

Did I mention, launching cows?

Simply strap into the Ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit™ (Super Suit for short) and be prepared to take down Psy-Crow!

Earthworm Jim HD will be hitting the PlayStation Network on August 3rd at an awesome price of $9.99!

Everyone’s favorite massive multiplayer first-person shooter, MAG, is unleashing yet another awesome personal space into the ever-evolving world of PlayStation Home — and just in time for the Zipper Interactive’s v1.07 update! Come Thursday, July 29th, soldiers from the Raven faction will be able to assemble their clans and plan the next course of attack in PlayStation Home’s new Raven personal space. Releasing alongside a slew of Raven furniture items, the Raven personal space is a strategic outpost situated in the heart of the jungle — dedicated to Raven Industries military operations — and a true must-have addition to any member of what is inarguably the most technologically advanced private military corporation’s repertoire.

In other news, the PlayStation Home Community Theater will be receiving a huge update this Thursday, with the next edition of PS Nation’s wildly popular (and PlayStation Home-exclusive) videocast. Serving to bring players closer to their favorite gaming websites, blogs, podcasts, videocasts (and other media outlets) while further uniting the enormous audience under the shared interest of the best PlayStation games, the PlayStation Home Community Theater has been a huge success since we launched last month.

We caught up with PS Nation head honcho Glenn Percival earlier this week to chat about the newest addition to PlayStation Home’s Community Theater, and this is what he had to say:

We are very excited to bring you the next episode of our exclusive PlayStation Home Community Theater videocast! This time around we are featuring highlights from E3 2010, the awesome PSP version of Gravity Crash (don’t miss our interview with Stewart Gilray in our Episode 173 podcast), and show that, even in stick-form, Joel is just irresistible to all. Judging by the latest batch of download stats for our PS Nation Podcast, some of you apparently enjoyed our first video (they’ve increased almost 5 times since our first episode aired in PlayStation Home! Thank You!)

Finally, the PlayStation Home Mall will receive an update this week. Check out the Latest Update tab in your Menu Pad (simply press Start > Community > Latest Update) for a full list of new content. Personally, I think the new Lockwood Wings, available in the Sodium store this Thursday, are going to be a hit — but as always, it is your feedback that drives the development of all content in PlayStation Home. So be sure to head to the PlayStation Home General forum to let us know what you think about all the new content after you’ve given it a try.

See you in Home!

We’ve got a huge update this week for the PlayStation Store Digital Comics. First off, you can now buy a complete digital comic series or story arcs. This is perfect for all of you comic readers who want to buy a full series rather than have to buy each issue individually. Plus when you purchase a comic bundle you’ll get it at a lower price than you would if you bought each issue individually. The full list of PlayStation Comic Store ‘Bundles’ is noted below.

New Release highlights:

We have two more free comics from DC this week. The first: Bottle of Awesome #1. Billy Butterman is a loser, a putz. High school is a total nightmare: all the cool guys pick on him, girls ignore him. That is, until the day he encounters a mysterious hobo, who urges him into drink from a bottle of awesome. However, he warns Billy not to drink too much, for a person can become too awesome. Will Billy heed his words?

The second free comic introduces us to the world of Ex Machina which Publishers Weekly described as “…half X-Files, half West Wing and 100% genius”. EX MACHINA is far from a traditional “cape and tights” adventure story. It is a sophisticated superhero story for readers who are sceptical of anyone who can jump over a building in a single bound.

IDW continues the epic tale of Dragon Age, the second issue is out now! We also see Jurassic Park #1 – It’s been 13 years since little Tim and Lex Murphy escaped from the island of Isla Sorna, and recent public opinion has reversed, with the world clamouring for authorities to re-open Jurassic Park! With the help of their controversial Granddad’s inheritance and their own sharp wits, a secret deal is struck to open a new park! This time they’ll get it right…right? Bob Schreck makes his writing debut on this all-new tale, under covers from fellow industry legends Frank Miller and Tom Yeates!

From Marvel this week we have more Daredevil and all six issues of The Infinity Gauntlet which happens to be one of the best stories Marvel has ever told.

Disney fans should be happy with Pocahontas. Or if you are after something more mature then check out Markosia’s beautifully disturbing Breathe #1.

Here’s the full list and as always head to www.playstationcomics.com for more info or to view our full catalog and pricing.

• 2000AD Prog #1690
• Army of Two #6
• Astro Boy: Movie Adaptation BUNDLE
• The Authority #3
• Azure #3
• Batman #635
• Batman #636
• Batman #637
• Batman #638
• Batman #639
• Batman #640
• Batman #641
• Bottle of Awesome #1
• Breathe #1
• Daredevil (1998) #104
• Daredevil (1998) #105
• Daredevil (1998) #106
• Daredevil (1998) #107
• Daredevil (1998) #108
• Daredevil (1998): Hell to Pay BUNDLE
• DMZ #15
• Donald Duck, Fethry Duck and the Factotum Cruise
• Dragon Age #2
• Ex Machina #1
• Ex Machina #2
• Fables #17
• Fantastic Four: Civil War, Book 1 (2003) BUNDLE
• Fantastic Four: Civil War, Book 2 (2003) BUNDLE
• From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker #1
• From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker #2
• From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker #3
• From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker #4
• From the Pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula: Harker #5
• Gen13 #3
• G.I. Joe: Operation Hiss #5
• G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra: Official Movie Adaptation BUNDLE
• Green Lantern: Secret Origin – Part 6 #6
• Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War – Part 7 of 12 #7
• Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War – Part 8 of 12 #8
• Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War – Part 9 of 12 #9
• Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War – Part 10 of 12 #10
• Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War – Part 11 of 12 #11
• Groom Lake BUNDLE
• High Moon #5
• Hope Falls #5
• Huey, Dewey and Louie in the Library of Mysteries
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #1
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #2
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #3
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #4
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #5
• Infinity Gauntlet (1991) #6
• Jonah Hex #15
• Juassic Park #1
• Justice League: Generation Lost #6
• Kingdom Come #3
• Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft BUNDLE
• Marvel Zombies 2 (2007) #4
• Mickey Mouse and the Magnificent Doublejoke
• Planetary #4
• Planetary #5
• Pocahontas
• Powers (2000) #15
• Powers (2000) #16
• Scrooge McDuck and the Endless Game
• Star Trek: Countdown BUNDLE
• Star Trek: Nero BUNDLE
• Tank Girl – The Gifting BUNDLE
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation BUNDLE
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Alliance BUNDLE
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Prequel: Defiance BUNDLE
• The Unwritten #4
• Vampire Hunter D Volume 1 BUNDLE
• Vampire Hunter D Volume 2 #2
• Witch & Wizard: The Battle For Shadowland #2
• Wildcats #3
• Wizards of Mickey #10
• Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse: Birds, Bees, Blood & Beer BUNDLE
• X-Men: Blinded by the Lights (2004) BUNDLE
• X-Mickey #16
• Zombies vs Robots BUNDLE

Q-Games and Dylan Cuthbert are cooking up plenty of new tricks for PixelJunk Shooter 2, the follow-up to the 2009 PSN title that mixed retro-styled audio-visuals with progressive gameplay mechanics. But once I picked up the controller at last week’s NYC PlayStation media day, I discovered that PixelJunk Shooter 2 expands upon this formula in several key ways.

Light and dark. I quickly learned that darkness is not your friend in PixelJunk Shooter 2. Traveling though a dark area for more than a few seconds will attract invulnerable apparitions – the spectral remnants of a “lost civilization” — and almost instant death. Faced with a long, shadowy tunnel, I turned my cannons on a nearby phosphorescent mushroom. While it bobbed like a metronome, I was able to stay within its small orb of light to pass through the tunnel unscathed.

That’s when I discovered another threat lurking in the darkness: worm-like parasites that latched onto my ship’s hull and slowed my movement to a crawl. Once exposed to light, the worms quickly wither and die — but their slowing effect can spell doom when you’re desperately trying to escape the ghosts.

New elements. By and large, the original game tasked players with manipulating magma and water (plus that magnetic black fluid found near the end of the game) to advantageous effect in order to rescue stranded explorers. But being set inside the “Belly of the Beast,” PixelJunk Shooter 2’s various substances have a more organic theme: I saw a caustic bile-like fluid as well as a mysterious purple ooze.

Eden…found? In another sequence, I encountered vast clouds of a smoke-like substance that caused my ship to spin like a top and careen helplessly out of control. Trouble was, I had to traverse the cloud in order to reach the end of the level. What to do?

While spinning, I used my grappling hook on an oddly shaped object placed nearby, which caused me to swing around and around like a kid on a merry-go-round. By releasing the grappling hook at the right time, I was able to propel myself out of the cloud and safely into the level’s exit. PixelJunk Eden fans will feel right at home!

My first hands-on experience with PixelJunk Shooter 2 didn’t last long, but it also gave me a chance to track down answers to a couple of PlayStation.Blog reader-submitted questions, which I’ve posted below.

plaztiksyke asks: Will PixelJunk Shooter 2 have a longer campaign than the original?

Q-Games is still hard at work on PixelJunk Shooter 2’s development process. From what I’ve been told, they haven’t yet nailed down the set number of levels and environments for the final game, though the game’s overall length is expected to be roughly comparable to the original game.

I was also reminded that PixelJunk Shooter 2 will also include a new competitive arena, as well as a “ghost attack” mode, both of which will add further gameplay options.

plaztiksyke asks: Who’s doing the music for PixelJunk Shooter 2?

High Frequency Bandwidth will be returning to create new music tracks for PixelJunk Shooter 2.

Once we decided to go for the old school, side scrolling, beat ‘em up style with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Video Game, we wanted to go all in! We brought in pixel artist extraordinaire Paul Robertson.

The next step was creating an amazing soundtrack. We immediately thought of Brooklyn chiptune rockers, Anamanaguchi. They wowed us (and 5,000 others) at PAX and really captured the sound we wanted for the game. Here, the guys share their favorite songs from the game.

Ary Warnaar

“Twin Dragons”

I really enjoyed how the Twin Dragons cue came into existence. It was very unexpected. A couple months ago we were playing a show here in Brooklyn with Ok, Go. I was hanging out backstage with one of my good friends Damon who also happens to be one of the most talented chip artists I know (he goes by Starscream with his drummer George). We were kinda bored and decided to start a collaboration italo-disco song on Game Boy. He started with an awesome bass line and beat, and I started writing some melody stuff. We didn’t get past the loop that night, but the next day I couldn’t get it out of my head, and kept working on it. I don’t remember at what point I realized it would work perfectly for the game… it sort of just transformed into that cue naturally. So yeah, it’s my favorite because it really started as a song for myself that ended up being for Scott Pilgrim. That natural transition is a great example of what made the project so fun. It never really felt like writing for a video game, it felt more like composing music for life stuff we’ve all experienced – stuff that Scott Pilgrim happened to have experienced as well…

Luke Silas
“Suburban Tram”

I’m especially proud of the track we wrote for the train level – Suburban Tram. When we were working on it, Pete had brought up giving it a sort of Hot Water Music-type sound, and it actually came very naturally after that. I really love positive, uplifting punk and post-hardcore music, and it was a lot of fun to try and translate it into our distinct style. Something about the final version of this track evokes real motion, as in makes you want to move, both from the heart and on the road.. at least that’s how i hear it!

James DeVito
“This is the End”

It was really interesting to hear ‘This is the End’ (yes, it’s for the perfect ending only!) go through many different phases as it was being written. At first it was just a straight ballad, but it needed something more… more epic and triumphant. Obviously it’s gotta be the best song ever if you have to be perfect to get there. That’s when Ary mentioned to Pete to think of it more as an epic Queen ballad, and it all came together after that. Pete absolutely nailed it. Not only will this song be extremely gratifying to the player as they perfect the game, but it also ended up being one of the last songs we wrote, and the last song we mixed, so us too were even treated to the ‘perfect’ ending of an incredibly amazing project.

Peter Berkman
“Scott Pilgrim Theme”

It’s really difficult for me to pick just one track to talk about, so I guess I’ll approach it in the big picture and discuss the theme. This was the first song we wrote for the game, I wanted the theme to be everything that epitomizes “Scott Pilgrim” to me. I wanted a melody that was both melancholy and triumphant, I wanted it to evoke a sort of nostalgic John Hughes world and the deluge of emotions and gut feelings that present themselves when you’re completely smitten, which Scott Pilgrim undoubtedly is. That’s what the second half of the song is about, the first half is about punching people, obviously.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World debuts exclusively on the PlayStation Network on August 10th.

Don’t forget to pre-order for a free Sex Bomb-Omb tee for your PlayStation Home Avatar!

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

PlayStation Plus

Critter Crunch (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers)

Syphon Filter (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers)

Kahoots (Free to PlayStation Plus subscribers)

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (PlayStation Plus price $3.00, original price $5.99)

Super Street Fighter IV PSN Avatar Bundle ($4.99) (Exclusive to PlayStation Plus Subscribers)
*Includes 35 Super Street Fighter IV Avatars

Updates

MLB 2K10 PSP – Permanent Price Drop (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Silent Hill Origins – Permanent Price Drop (now $9.99, original price $14.99)
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo – Sale (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Section 8 – Sale (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
Blast Factor – Sale (now $4.99, original price $12.99)
Blast Factor Advanced Research (now $2.49, original price $4.99)
Blast Factor Multiplayer Pack (now $1.49, original price $2.99)
Blast Factor Bundle (now $6.49, original price $12.99)

PSone Classics

The Emperor’s New Groove ($5.99)
Emperor Kuzco was turned into a llama by him loyal advisor! Now, he must team up with a simple citizen in order to return to the palace and reclaim the throne! Download this PS one classic today!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 381 MB

Hercules ($5.99)
Play as Hercules and go from zero to hero! Battle through a series of action-packed levels to prove you are a true hero! Download this PS one classic today!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 213 MB

A Bug’s Life ($5.99)
Play the role of Flik, a klutzy but inventive worker ant, as he searches for other insects to help defend his colony against the cruel grasshoppers! Download this PS one classic today!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 479 MB

Toy Story Racer ($5.99)
Join all of the Toy Story crew in this fun racer! Use your power-ups and put the pedal down to cross the finish line first! Download this PS one classic today!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 138 MB

Game Demos (free)

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days – Multiplayer Demo
Demo for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, a raw and brutal crime shooter. Relentless action in single player and Fragile Alliance multiplayer.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 1.38 GB

Madden NFL 11 Demo
Madden NFL 11 is SIMPLER. QUICKER. DEEPER. Experience an all-new streamlined playcall system, FULL games in HALF the time, and intuitive Dual Stick Control- all to the exciting play-by-play of Gus Johnson. For added strategy, dive deep into the playbook and create custom Game Plans. Download the demo, and get rewarded for sharing it with friends.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.66 GB

Section 8 Trial
Section 8 is a large-scale, sci-fi first person shooter where fast-paced action meets military strategy in the far reaches of the galaxy. Join the epic battle between the 8th Armored Infantry and the Arm of Orion by taking part in fierce squad-based combat across majestic alien worlds. Play now and enjoy a free trial on “Hornet’s Nest,” one of our most action-packed maps! Play time is time-limited per session, with unlimited sessions allowed.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 3.54 MB

Flower Demo
Flower lets you take control of the wind as you explore and navigate beautiful, lush environments using only the SIXAXIS motion controls. This is an interactive escape that takes you on an emotional journey like no other game you’ve ever experienced. Download the demo today for a taste of this highly-acclaimed hit.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 704 MB

Add-on Game Content

PAIN – Pinball Abusement Park ($1.99)
Get ready to test your Ooching skills in a totally different way with PAIN’s Pinball: Abusement Park mode. This PAINful version of pinball will launch your character into a giant table inspired by the crazy theme of the Abusement Park, filled with tons of ways to bump and Ooch your score up onto the Global Leaderboards. As with other Add-on modes, you can play with any launchable character you already own. Download PAIN Pinball: Abusement Park today!
File size: 100 KB

Transformers: War For Cybertron: Map and Character Pack ($9.99)
Become the ultimate weapon and wage war in four new maps – engage in multiplayer combat in HAVOC and FORTRESS or fend off waves of Autobots and Decepticons in the FORSAKEN and DISTRICT Escalation mode maps. Also gain access to 5 characters and their chassis for use in Escalation mode and Multiplayer character creation – SCATTERSHOT, ONSLAUGHT, DEMOLISHOR, SHOCKWAVE and JAZZ.
File size: 290 MB

Lost Planet 2 Rush Arena Mode ($2.99)
Run the gauntlet against the biggest beasts of E.D.N. III in Rush Arena, a new mode for LOST PLANET 2! Form a team of up to 4 players in this mode that pits you against all the bosses that appear in LOST PLANET 2, and compete with other players on the Leaderboards to post the best completion time!
File size: 6.43 MB

Super Street Fighter IV: Super Complete Alternate Costume Pack ($17.99)
Download the eighth pack of alternate costumes for Super Street Fighter IV! Outfit every character in the game with brand new threads! Only available for use with Super Street Fighter IV.
File size: 100 KB

Skate 3: After Dark Pack ‘Available via in-game Store only’ ($4.99)
Night Skate for the first time in the brand new Sanatorium, then hit up the classic San Van DIY park for a shred after dark.
File size: 197 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: Carolinas Pack ($6.99)
Head to the Carolina’s and tee off at one of these beautiful courses. Whether you want to challenge yourself at South Carolina’s top rated course, Harbour Town or hit the links at North Carolina’s historic Pinehurst course both courses require aim accuracy and consistency from the player to score competitively.
File size: 390 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: Championship Pack ($4.99)
Whether you want to play the award winning Cog Hill or discover Pebble Beach’s hidden gem, Spyglass Hill, you will be sure to challenge your game. Spyglass is consistently ranked as one of America’s Greatest Public Courses and is known for having some of the toughest holes on the PGA TOUR. Watch out for Cog Hill’s hole 6, a two-tiered green that slopes toward the front and is surrounded by deep sand bunkers.
File size: 412 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: International Pack ($4.99)
Tee it up and experience either Shanghai’s unique Sheshan or play one of the world’s top 100 courses–Gary Player located in South Africa. Challenge yourself on Sheshan’s hole 16 and 17 where you play around and over the quarry giving awe inspiring views. Watch out for Gary Player’s hole number 9 which is known for its risk and reward.
File size: 434 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: North America Pack ($4.99)
Hit the links at one of these beautiful courses and test your abilities. Play alongside the pros at Bay Hill, home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Walk one of the most famous courses in the world and enjoy Banff Spring’s spectacular views as you challenge your entire game. Banff’s demanding signature hole, nicknamed “The Devil’s Cauldron”, features a magnificent tee that is perched over an emerald lake.
File size: 475 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: The Predator ($4.99)
Grab your clubs and prepare for a true adventure at The Predator! This fantasy course is designed in and out of a jungle set amongst the Mayan ruins near Belize. Test your entire game with multiple options on each and every hole for the aggressive golfer as well as the safe swinger. But, bring all your shots including your ability to work the ball left and right as creativity will help you get around this jungle of a course.
File size: 159 MB

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11: The TPC Blue Monster at Doral ($4.99)
Hit the links at this legendary Florida course known as the TPC Blue Monster at Doral. And maybe bring a few extra balls for this tough test as you’ll need stamina, strategy, and accuracy to navigate all the water that’s waiting to drown your round.
File size: 241 MB

Trinity Universe – Mightiest Meteorite Pack ($1.99)
“Hero Souls,” “Magic Defender,” “Laser Point,” “Miracle Gambler,” “Supernova Blast,” “Valkyrie Justice,” “De Lux Fighter,” “Eternal One!”
These are the Super Galaxy Class Meteorites’ power?!
It’s almost as wonderful as cooking with carrots!”
File size: 100 KB

Zen Pinball – Mars Table ($2.49)
What will we find when we finally land on Mars? Explore the red planet using the latest space technology, and uncover the ancient secrets hidden within.
File size: 55 MB

Guitar Hero
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “Devour” – Shinedown ($1.99)
• “Second Chance” – Shinedown ($1.99)
• “Sound of Madness” – Shinedown ($1.99)
• Shinedown Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Devour”, “Second Chance”, and “Sound of Madness” by Shinedown. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File size: 38 – 40 MB (singles), 115 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “A Dios le Pido” – Juanes ($1.99)
• “Fijate Bien” – Juanes ($1.99)
• “Gotas de Agua Dulce” – Juanes ($1.99)
• “La Camisa Negra” – Juanes ($1.99)
• “Mala Gente” – Juanes ($1.99)
• “Yerbatero” – Juanes ($1.99)
• Juanes Pack 01 ($9.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Juanes Pack 01. This pack includes “A Dios le Pido”, “Fijate Bien”, “Gotas de Agua Dulce”, “La Camisa Negra”, “Mala Gente”, and “Yerbatero” by Juanes.
• “Nightmare” – Avenged Sevenfold ($1.99)
• “Scream” – Avenged Sevenfold ($1.99)
• “Seize the Day” – Avenged Sevenfold ($1.99)
• Avenged Sevenfold Pack 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Avenged Sevenfold Pack 01. This pack includes “Nightmare”, “Scream”, and “Seize the Day” by Avenged Sevenfold.

Rock Band Network

• “Goth Girls” by MC Frontalot ($1.99)
• “Higher” by Creed ($1.99)
• “River of Tuoni” by Amberian Dawn ($1.99)
• “Tastes Like Kevin Bacon” by iwrestledabearonce ($1.99)
• “Walls” by All Time Low ($1.99)

File size: 23 – 48 MB (singles), 125 – 157 MB (track pack)

Avatars

Flower Avatar ($0.49)
File size: 100 KB

UNCHARTED 2 Avatars ($0.49) (x8)
File size: 100 KB

UNCHARTED 2 Avatar Bundle ($1.25) (x2)
File size: 400 KB

Super Street Fighter IV Avatars ($0.49) (x5)
File size: 105 – 116 KB

Game Videos (free)

DC Universe Online CG Cinematic Trailer
File size: 275 MB (HD)

Piyotama PSP Launch Trailer
File size: 40 MB (HD)

Naughty Bear – Episode 8 Trailer
File size: 13 MB (SD), 33 MB (HD)

Crysis 2 – Marine Salvage Trailer
File size: 111 MB (HD)

Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Trailer
File size: 49 MB (HD)

Skate 3 – Danny Way Trailer
File size: 50 MB (HD)

Family Feud Trailer
File size: 24 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

Clash Of The Titans Dynamic Theme (US Only) ($2.99)
File size: 5.09 MB

Shark Week Dynamic Theme (US Only) ($3.99)
File size: 16 MB

Sexy Theme ($0.99)
File size: 2.07 MB

Bikini Theme ($1.99)
File size: 1.58 MB

Destination Theme ($1.99)
File size: 1.18 MB

Wallpapers (free)

Fat Princess Fat Roles Wallpaper 4
File size: 1.03 MB (1080)

PlayStation Store for PSP Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Piyotama PSP ($4.99)
Piyotama is an excitingly addictive action-puzzle game for your PSP system that tasks players to help her hatch the eggs before they overflow the nest by simply lining up eggs of the same color and chaining them together four at a time to create combos for a hatching frenzy! Download Piyotama today!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 33 MB

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

BUZZ Quiz World: Celebrities Quiz Pack ($2.99)
Test your knowledge on the Hollywood’s most popular celebrities! This pack features hundreds of new questions to play in any of your favorite BUZZ! Quiz World game modes for your PSP or PSPgo system. Download this quiz pack today and turn your party into the ultimate trivia showdown.
File size: 27 MB

Game Videos (free)

Piyotama PSP Launch Trailer
File size: 7.21 MB

PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Terran 3020 PSP Theme 3 ($1.49)
File size: 579 KB

Terran 3020 PSP Theme 4 ($1.49)
File size: 624 KB

Clash Of The Titans PSP Theme (US Only) ($1.49)
File size: 682 KB

This past week was Comic-Con in San Diego – a gathering of all things relating to pop culture, from gaming to movies to television, and everything in between. The Ghost of Sparta development team headlined a Comic-Con panel called “The World that is God of War” in which they discussed details about the new game. Watch the video below to catch the panel.

Dana Jan (game director), Derek Mulder (lead gameplay programmer), Nathan Phail-Liff (art director), and Adam Byrne (lead animator) from Ready At Dawn Studios performed a live demo, along with a brief Q&A session for more than 250 fans and media in attendance.

Also, we were thrilled to include God of War: Ghost of Sparta in the Comic-Con festivities beginning with an unveil of new gameplay footage on SPIKE’s Friday night GameTrailers TV episode. Watch it for yourself below.

We’re calling this footage the “Midas Moment” since it depicts Kratos’s battle against King Midas. The terrain in the environment is volcanic with lava all around, providing a great glimpse into another part of the world Kratos will explore in Ghost of Sparta and another example of the breathtaking aesthetics found in the game. This scene also shows off a more immersive “in your face” battle with up-close and personal brutality. It cinematically presents the brutal, bulldozing force that Kratos exerts to obliterate each and every obstacle in his path (a la the Poseidon kill in God of War III). And with the inclusion of King Midas, it seamlessly integrates another popular character from Greek mythology into the God of War universe.

Working on the PlayStation 3 has been wonderful. As this was my first project on the PS3, I was apprehensive at first about the new technology and how to use it as best we could. But now, I can honestly say I am a fan of the PS3.

Early in development, Blade Kitten was both a 3D and a 2D game and you could switch between them instantly — you’d run through a section then it would transition to 2D. It didn’t take us long to fall in love with the 2D version, so we focused all our efforts on making the 2D the fun game it is today.

From the start of our project, our goal as programmers was to give the designers all the power they needed to create the game that they wanted. Ideally, a level designer controls the player’s progression and experience in each area of the game (enemy placement, special events, collectables, and so on). So rather than implement a boss character’s attack moves myself, I would give the designers scripting tools to implement the boss themselves.

This proved to be one of the best decisions we made. For example, the level where Kit is running away from a huge monster called Acland, who destroys everything in his path, was completely scripted by the designers — as were all our bosses and many of the encounters you see. This has allowed for a much more flexible design with changes being quick and easy. But most importantly, much happier designers!

Being able to move any object anywhere and have our characters move along with them was fundamental to our game, so we made it so Kit can attach to pretty much everything. If the object moves or rotates, so does she. The level designers have done a great job using this and, even from the first level, you will see some fun movement and puzzles you can play with using these moving objects.

Blade Kitten was a re-think of how we normally do artificial intelligence. As there is a single plane that everyone fights on, we needed to make all the enemies work together without getting in each other’s way. Therefore, you’ll see things like the front guy duck down so the guy behind him can take a shot, or even have one guy jump over another to try to aggressively get to you. They all work together which helps create an interesting experience without overwhelming the player. It’s important that the enemies in the game feel like they are alive and are planning their strategy together to form a real challenge to players.

It was fun to get physics working properly in a 2D environment. We have some items which are fully 3D enabled and allowed to fly off into the yonder. Enemies have “ragdoll” effects that have them falling down in different ways when hit, and “fraggable” objects that break apart realistically. Additionally we have items that are fully physics-driven but stay on the player’s plane so you can use them without worrying about them flying away from you. This goes towards making the game world deeper, more detailed and unpredictable.

I hope you all enjoy this game as much as we have enjoyed making it.

If you consider yourself the type of person who likes getting new video game features for free, then our next MAG patch — version 1.07, due in early August — is definitely something for you.

Yes friends, in just over a week from now, players will be treated to a number of features that you’ve been asking us for all summer in addition to a few surprises. Like what, you ask? Like these:

• A new “Happy Hour” Double XP bonus that’s applied to the first hour of any player’s gameplay session in a 24-hour period.
• Suppression will join Sabotage as a “Faction Neutral” gameplay mode, allowing any PMC to battle each other on any Suppression map.
• Faster download and patching code that allows us to update MAG with more content and bigger file sizes in a speedier way.
• Redesigned versions of the Flores Basin (Raven) and Alyeska Terminus (Valor) Domination maps that include new obstacles and repaired exploits.
• New lighting effects for more attractive and realistic environments.
• Various fixes to address bugs or glitches to improve MAG’s overall performance.

Of course, there are a number of other additions and fixes coming with MAG v1.07, but the points listed above should whet your appetites while you wait for the full list of changes closer to the update.

Watch this space for patch details next week and, as always, let us know what you think of these modifications on our official forums.

It’s been a busy few days for Dead Space fans; a lot of news has come to light over the last week. While Dead Space 2 is still on track for early 2011, the world of Isaac Clarke is spreading like necromorphs through a ventilation system.

In this interview from last week’s EA Showcase, Dead Space 2 Producer Rich Briggs answers your questions about Dead Space 2 and the PS3-exclusive HD edition of Dead Space Extraction, and details the forthcoming Dead Space Ignition (which will tie in to DS2).

Later on in the week, EA/Visceral Games made even more Dead Space-related announcements at Comic-Con. Here’s Dead Space 2 executive producer Steve Papoutsis with details for our readers:

Today is a very exciting day for the Dead Space franchise. I’m proud to announce 2 new fiction extensions for the Dead Space universe.

Dead Space Aftermath is our second animated feature. It tells the story of what happened after Isaac had his encounter with the red marker. We are working on this with Starz/Film Roman and will be released January 2011.

Dead Space Salvage is a new graphic novel featuring the talented artist Christopher Shy. It takes a peak at what happened to the Ishimura after Isaac departed.

Both of these additions will continue to expand the Dead Space fiction and we can’t wait to see what people think when they get to enjoy them.

If this stuff sounds cool please post a message and let us know. Thanks.

Hi everyone, the next PlayStation 3 (PS3) system software update is coming soon. Firmware update 3.41 will add recommendations for games and videos on PlayStation Store. When you’re browsing through the details of a particular title, you’ll see a new “You May Like” section on the right-hand side. This section lists additional items based on the purchases of other PlayStation Network members who have purchased the item you’re currently looking at.

You can then click on this section to zoom in on the list and scroll the recommended titles.

This feature is a great way to discover new games that you may not know about, and it’s another step toward making the shopping experience easier and better for you all — similar to the five-star ratings feature we added in the last firmware update. Please note that while the 3.41 update will be released shortly, the recommendations feature on PlayStation Store is slated to go live by the end of July.

In addition to this PS3 update, the next PSP (PlayStation Portable) firmware update (v.6.31) will be coming as well. This is a minor update, and system software stability during use of some PSP format software titles has been improved.

As always, we look forward to your feedback.

Greetings everyone Ramone Russell here with another ModNation Monday update!

MNR Creations of the Week

Amazing creations in ModNation get shared every day and we are playing a ton of them. If you are interested in submitting your mod, kart or track to be a future “creation” of the week be sure to visit up on the official ModNation Community site and who knows? You might see your handy work on the PlayStation.Blog.

Mods of the Week

Mod Name: Break Time
Creator: coltsandcubsfan

Mod Name: Ike(Remaster)
Creator: paradise131

Karts of the Week

Kart Name: Buggy O’Hare
Creator: SuperSpecs

Kart Name: DualShock
Creator: cros1625

Tracks of the Week

Track Name: The Desert Kingdom
Created by: StealthReborn–

StealthReborn—says “This is another map that’s well suited for the beginners and a very fascinating map for the advanced players. There’s a lot to see in this map, and a couple of minor surprises. You think you’re going to be going through that hoop in the air? Think again, you might just find yourself on the same road heading straight for a devastator if you’re not careful. This map is has tons of scenery, nice twists and turns to satisfy everyone.”

Track Name: Alpine Stadium
Created by: dragon_Bremen

dragon_Bremen says “Blast up (or over!) Winding mountain roads, through dangerous caves and BLAST OFF the peak at maximum altitude and velocity! Pods are easy pickings at the base, but become harder to grab toward the top. Can you find all the shortcuts?”

Track Name: Roma
Created by: CIV_BOSS

CIV_BOSS says “This is a trip through ancient Rome. When you play this track you’ll have a choice of whether to focus on the track and win or just be absolutely amazed at how beautiful this map is, and probably hit a wall staring off into the scenery. You will blast off over the Pantheon through the roman city and market, around or through the coliseum, across the aqueduct and through the Circus Maximus. Have fun playing or just enjoy the beauty.

Hot Lap Roster for this week

Continuing with the trend we started weeks ago, this week’s Hot Lap roster features all new community created tracks.

• Monday: The Desert Kingdom, by StealthReborn–
• Tuesday: Mount St. Salad Climb, by SaladSnacksSTD
• Wednesday: Morning Sprint, by Crashdance23
• Thursday: Roma, by CIV_BOSS
• Friday: Festival Circuit, by dragon_Bremen
• Saturday: Crimson Valley 1.6, by BorrelnootjeNL
• Sunday: La Lotte, by INeon_INoodle

What’s up with the PATCH?

We know everyone has been extremely patient with this patch and it’s much appreciated. We are happy to say that we hope to have a solid release date next ModNation Monday.

Until then… see you in the ModSpot!

We told you something legendary was about to happen! One of the hits of San Diego Comic-Con weekend was the debut of the full cinematic trailer (a whopping 5 and a half minutes) for DC Universe Online, entitled “Who Do You Trust?” In addition to being shown on Spike TV, the trailer also made its Comic-Con premiere at the DCUO panel discussion to thunderous applause.

In DC Universe Online, you’ll be able to team up with legendary DC heroes like Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern… or pledge allegiance to the Joker, Lex Luthor, and other classic villains to determine the fate of the DC Universe. During the struggle for supremacy, you’ll team up with thousands of other players online from your PS3, customize your own skills and abilities, and ultimately create the most powerful super-being ever depicted in a videogame setting

So now that we know that gamers can become the next great legend of the DC Universe, the next question is whether or not they’ll save it, or conquer it? Guess we’ll find out when the game hits the PS3 on November 2nd.

At last week’s PlayStation event in NYC, I was pleased to see Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition make an appearance — complete with the new PlayStation Move control scheme.

I grabbed a PlayStation Move and a Navigation Controller and dove into a combat sequence several chapters into the game. Several details quickly became apparent:

Aiming is much, much easier. I was able to pop headshots, even at long ranges, with impressive accuracy using the PlayStation Move’s reticule aiming. You move your character with an analog stick (via the Navigation Controller or a DualShock 3), then squeeze the trigger on the PlayStation Move to draw your weapon. Once your shot is lined up, you press the Move button with your thumb to fire the shot. Easy!

From what I played, the new PlayStation Move aiming controls will be a big help to players who had difficulty adjusting to Resident Evil 5’s default analog stick control scheme.

Knifing is easier, too. In the original version of Resident Evil 5, swinging your knife was a two-step process: you pressed and held one button to ready the knife, and another to swing it. But using PlayStation Move, you can “waggle” the motion controller to immediately swing the knife at any time. It’s handier in a pinch, and makes close-quarters battles feel faster and deadlier. It’s also easier to smash open crates and barrels to find those all-important healing herbs.

Reloading works through a similar process: you pull the trigger to ready your weapon, then “waggle” the PlayStation Move control to reload. These tweaks make the game feel faster and nimbler, freeing up precious seconds during heated combat sequences.

Chris and Sheva are more maneuverable. By shifting the run button to the left-hand Navigation Controller (or a DualShock 3), Resident Evil 5 frees up your right hand for aiming and knifing. This has a liberating effect on the game’s pacing by encouraging more hit-and-run tactics — a must when battling tough bosses such as the chainsaw-wielding Majini. Much like the other enhancements to the PlayStation Move control scheme, this makes playing Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition a nimbler, easier process.

If you already own a copy of Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition for your PS3, you’ll be able to download a free patch close to the launch of the PlayStation Move (September 19th in North America) to enable the new motion-control scheme. This will only work with RE5 copies labeled “Gold Edition” — the original version of RE5 won’t be receiving the patch, for technical reasons.

Moving forward, all new “Gold Edition” versions of Resident Evil 5 that hit store shelves after the launch of PlayStation Move will come with PlayStation Move support included on the disc. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition also comes with all the DLC add-ons, including the new “Desperate Escape” and “Lost in Nightmares” scenarios, as standard features.

Have any other questions about Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition’s new PlayStation Move control scheme? Ask away in the comments and I’ll see what I can dig up.

Sad to say but today is the final day of Comic-Con 2010. For all of you Digital Comic readers, as promised we have a special memento to offer from this year’s convention. The kind folks at HBO and IDW passed out a voucher code to attendees giving them a small bite out of the new True Blood digital comic which released on the Digital Comics Store this past Wednesday.

Here’s the voucher code for the True Blood teaser: EKJ6-TQBN-4T9Q.

To get a better taste of what to expect, check out the blog entry below from the co-writer of the True Blood series, Mariah Huehner.

Vampires seem to be one of the few mythological creatures we just can’t seem to get enough of. They’ve become the embodiments of many of the darker impulses in the human condition and our need to express/explore them. They can be metaphors for the lonely “outsider.” They can represent the scarily tempting, deeply disturbing, and often repressive side of human sexuality. They can be impossibly beautiful or hideously monstrous. Whether they’re soulless atrocities or tragically misunderstood, they’ve managed to capture our collective imagination like very few other horror creatures, and they’re portrayed in a more nuanced way than most of our nightmares ever are.

True Blood is no exception. But it isn’t quite like Ye Olde Vampyre Tales, either. While many of the metaphoric elements are still intact, they don’t really mess around with being coy. It’s a very raw look at vampires, and in many ways a very raw look at humanity and life itself. It’s more passionate, more violent. More everything. And it’s not afraid to dip into the larger pool of myth, either, with shape shifters and werewolves and Greek goddesses…and who knows what else still to come.

Working on the comic with Alan Ball, Kate Barnow, Elizabeth Finch, David Tischman, and David Messina, has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Not to mention my first official writing gig in comics. It’s very exciting and scary and most of all: fun. There are very few “worlds” as creatively open to play in as True Blood, and the team really let us explore the characters in ways I hope fans will enjoy. There’s still plenty of sex, violence, and gore…But, just like the show, there’s a lot more going on. There’s a mystery to be solved, a creepy new monster to deal with (where we dipped a bit into local Louisiana mythology ourselves), and all the characters are forced to reveal secrets from their pasts they’ve never shared with anyone before. Things most of us would be happy to go to our graves never telling even our nearest and dearest.

Personally, vampires have never really “scared” me in that booga-booga sense. But they do horrify. I mean, drinking blood seems incredibly gross to me, for one thing. Not to mention the fact that you have to kill another person to keep “living” your undead life. Lack of daylight I’m mostly okay with, though I’d miss sunsets over the ocean fiercely. But it’s losing everyone you love to age and death, while you stay the same, that’s truly horrifying. Because I kind of like the idea of immortality sometimes. Doesn’t everyone? You know, when it’s late at night and no one else is around and you realize that you’re going to cease being at some point and there are so many things you’re going to miss. That’s when the idea of never growing any older, of never dying, is most tempting. And maybe that tradeoff is worth a little blood sucking, right?

Maybe that’s what’s so intriguing about Bon Temps and the characters that inhabit True Blood. The sense that, deep down, a lot of them are thinking the same thing.

I hope you like our little True Blood story. I hope you find it as fun, romantic, scary, funny, sexy, and raw as the show. And if it makes you wonder, even a little, if you might make a good vampire, well…I won’t judge.

Here’s your San Diego Comic-Con Edition of What We Read. I feel like more interesting tidbits came out of the Con this year, but that’s for you to judge. And if we missed any stories (there’s still another day of Comic-Con-ing to go), please link to below.

Oh, and please be sure to click back over to the blog in a few hours, as we’ll have a special, downloadable, Comic-con-related treat for you.

The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of July 19, 2010)

• In The Quest For The Best Resident Evil Controls, Motion Gets Another Turn – Kotaku
• These Three Screenshots Are From The Same Game – Kotaku
• Dead Space: The Backpack Is Finally Here – Kotaku
• Disc-Free Netflix on PlayStation 3 by October – Shacknews
• SDCC: First video and screens of Street Fighter X Tekken – Destructoid
• The Comic-Con Exclusive Naruto Shippuden PSP – Siliconera
• Watch The Street Fighter X Tekken Debut Trailer – Siliconera
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World price, pre-order bonus announced – Joystiq
• DC Universe Online trailer pulls the ol’ switcheroo – Joystiq
• Comic-Con 2010: The Fight: Lights Out & The Shoot Interview – G4tv.com
• Echochrome 2 Comic-Con 2010 Hands-On Preview – G4tv.com
• SDCC 10: God of War: Ghost of Sparta Ass-Kicking – IGN
• Comic-Con 2010: Ghost of Sparta spooks San Diego – News
• Atlus Won’t Shutter Demon’s Souls Servers Just Yet – GameLife
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable Review for PSP – GameSpot
• Jaffe Reveals Details About Twisted Metal At Comic-Con – GameInformer.com
• Comic-Con 2010: Dead Nation Hands-On – Gamespot
• Comic-Con 2010: Twisted Metal panel reveals canceled ideas – Gamespot
• Sony, IndieCade creators partner to bring indie games Home – Network World
• SCEA, Codename Team With The Odd Gentlemen, Lazy8 For Social Games On PSHome – Gamasutra

I am sad to say that I did not attend Comic-Con this year. I’m particularly bummed to have missed out on David Jaffe and Scott Campbell’s Twisted Metal panel — you never know what those guys will say next! And, being the uber-nerd that I am, I would have loved to have seen The Walking Dead and True Blood booths, as well as the Scott Pilgrim screening. Ah, well. There’s always next year!

On the bright side, my trip to New York City early in the week was a fruitful one. I got hands-on time with games like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (radically different than the old-school Tomb Raider you know), Tron: Evolution (Lightcycles in stereoscopic 3D!), Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition with PlayStation Move support (super-precise aiming with a much simpler UI), and a ton of other great games. Look for more details next week as I transform my scrambled thoughts into sweet, sweet words.

Coming Soon to PSN: Gravity Crash Portable for PSP – The PSP version of this PSN game has oodles of new bonus content, including a new ship and more weapon slots.

ModNation Monday: New DLC and Features Inbound – Check out the top Mods and Tracks of the week, and learn more about how the new features in the upcoming patch.

PlayStation in NYC: A Call for Questions – I’m still reeling over the number of question submissions here (you guys rock), and I’m tracking down as many answers as possible. Stay tuned!

The PlayStation Fans’ Guide to San Diego Comic-Con – Jeff offers up a handy guide: PlayStation game panels, booths of note, and special events for Comic-Con attendees.

Latest Kung-Fu LIVE Trailer Arrives in Time for Comic-Con! – If you haven’t seen this hilarious new Kung-Fu LIVE trailer, please do so immediately.

Mafia II on PS3: Your Questions Answered – Learn about the cars, the music, and the PS3-exclusive Jimmy’s Vendetta bonus content in this decade-sprawling crime epic.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World New Comic-Con Trailer – This retro beat-em-up is debuting on PSN August 10th, but you can warm up with this new gameplay video. Dig those pixelly graphics!

PlayStation Store Update – The Kane & Lynch 2 demo for PlayStation Plus, Sam and Max episode 4, a new PSOne Classic, and more round out this week.

inFAMOUS 2 at Comic-Con – The Sucker Punch team presented new artwork and video in San Diego, get an overview here.

The Sly Collection…sneaking into retailers for $39.99! – A wallet-friendly price for this HD-remastered collection that supports Trophies and stereoscopic 3D.

Digital Comics Store Update – New comics include True Blood, new Vampire Hunter D, Daredevil “Without Fear,” Bone, and RASL.

Ratchet & Clank: Going Comics – Get a first look inside the upcoming R&C comic here, and learn more about Insomniac Games’ involvement.

Medal of Honor: Here’s What You Want to Know – You had questions, we’ve got answers! Learn more about the single-player campaign and the PS3-exclusive Frontlines Blu-ray bonus!

Comic-Con on the PlayStation Video Store, PSP Prizes and More – Watch Batman: Under the Red Hood before it hits DVD, and learn more about the epic Comic-Con PSP giveaway here.

Motorstorm Apocalypse: EU Livechat with Evolution Studios – Read through the transcript of this informative livechat hosted by our buddies at EU.PlayStation.Blog.

Coming to PSN Next Week: ZEN Pinball MARS Table – A slick new trailer shows off the upcoming MARS pinball table, complete with all the sci-fi trappings.

Dead Nation for PS3: Baseball Stadium showdown – The Blog unveils a new video for this upcoming PSN horror shooter. See what happens when a stadium full of baseball players go zombie!

MAG Sabotage Mode Goes Faction Neutral Starting… Now! – Zipper continues to refine their massive online shooter based on player feedback — see what’s in store for Sabotage here.

DC Universe Online for PS3: Comic-Con 2010 trailer revealed – Blur Studio has whipped up an eye-popping new DCUO trailer for Spike TV — get a first look here.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Coming to PSP – This acclaimed old-school RPG is headed to the PSP, and the original creators are along for the ride — see first screens here.

LittleBigPlanet 2 Updates: Official Date and Retail Goodness!!! – November 16th is the day! Check out the pre-order bonuses, too, which include costumes based on TRON, Toy Story, and the Muppets (seriously!).

InFAMOUS 2 for PS3: New Comic-Con cutscene – Fresh from Comic-Con, this storyline cinematic from inFAMOUS 2 gives you a brief history of New Marais.

Twisted Metal Returns! Eat Sleep Play Speaks Today – Before the Comic-Con panel, David Jaffe and Scott Campbell talk Twisted Metal in our exclusive video interview.

PlayStation Network Video Content Update – A free movie rental, special Comic-Con content, and a chance to win PSPs.

Coming Soon to PSN: Piyotama for PSP – This super-cute PSP game has you matching colored eggs to hatch the precious peeps inside. Also, “peep” the new video! (groan)

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood at Comic-Con 2010 – Jeff dug up a ton of answers on this upcoming title, including what’s new with Desmond (a lot!) and how the storyline and characters will evolve.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta hits SPIKE TV tonight, Comic-Con Saturday – The God of War: Ghost of Sparta team will be speaking shortly at Comic-Con, check this post for full details.

Courtesy of Jeremy Dunham

Zipline Podcast – Episode 13 – Scott Rudi, lead designer on MAG “Live”, has returned to the show to regale us with tales of MAG’s past, present and future, and he even unveils new SOCOM 4 info!

Courtesy of Arne Meyer

REMINDER: The Lab – Grenades Only – When we say Grenades Only, we mean grenades ONLY. Every player spawns with 99 grenades to blow up everything in sight.

Multiplayer during the World Cup – See some interesting data based on the World Cup matches and UNCHARTED 2 multiplayer habits. Fascinating!

Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Kratos would want it that way.

Tonight, GameTrailers TV is hosting a special God of War: Ghost of Sparta preview on SPIKE TV. The episode will showcase new gameplay video and details on the eagerly anticipated action epic being developed by Ready At Dawn Studios, aka the folks behind God of War: Chains of Olympus.

The SPIKE TV special will air tonight at 12:30am Pacific Time (check SPIKE.com for local listings).

Also, if you’re attending Comic-Con in San Diego, the Ready At Dawn team has a special treat for you. Drop by the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday to catch the “The World That is God of War” discussion panel and Q&A session — anyone with a badge should be able to attend, space willing. Here are the full details for the Comic-Con panel:

The World That is God of War — Ghost of Sparta Panel Q&A

• Time: Saturday, July 24: 1:00 — 2:00PM
• Location: San Diego Convention Center (Room 7AB)

111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

• Description: Ru Weerasuriya and Dana Jan are back, along with their talented team at Ready At Dawn Studios, to expand upon this blockbuster mythological world with God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Join Ru, Dana, and team for this one-on-one interview and Q&A session.

Finally, in related news, I got a chance to go one-on-one with Ghost of Sparta at the NYC PlayStation media day earlier this week. The action is classic God of War: fast, brutal, and epic. Kratos was packing plenty of new gear, too. The Spartan Spear and Shield grants Kratos a longer reach and the ability to hurl spears at distant foes, though his trademark Blades of Chaos still hold the edge in overall attack speed. I also experimented with the Eye of Atlantis, a new magical attack that gushes a stream of chain lightning at nearby enemies.

While you’re waiting for the SPIKE TV special and Comic-Con panel to start, you might want to take another look at the first Ghost of Sparta gameplay footage below. And yeah, that’s running on a PSP. Wait until you see it in person, free from web video compression.

If you’ve played through the Assassin’s Creed games, it’s obvious that a lot of thought went into the world of Assassins vs Templars – especially if you’ve unlocked every last thing in ACII. The writers on the franchise spoke about the process of creating the storyline – “exploring the cracks in history,” as they put it – at their San Diego Comic-Con panel Nothing is True, Everything is Forbidden – writing for Assassin’s Creed. But first – feast your eyes on the new multiplayer trailer.

Lead Writer Jeffrey Yohalem revealed more about AC: Brotherhood’s structure: it’s going to chronicle the struggle that leads to true leadership, based around the principles of Machiavelli’s The Prince. It takes more than just charisma to be a leader, but you’ve got to make a lot of right decisions before people put their life in your hands. In AC: Brotherhood, we’ll see how the returning Ezio will exemplify those qualities in the continuing struggles of the Assassins vs the Templars. Expect almost everyone that you met in ACII (but didn’t kill, natch) to return, albeit through deepened relationships. Characters that seemed merely helpful or 1-dimensional in ACII will reveal themselves to be more complex now.

The writers stressed that it’s important that everything fits into the story of Assassin’s Creed. Even the game’s menus are part of the Animus machine that Desmond channels the past in. Multiplayer mode is no different: “Abstergo has been busy,” said Yohalem. Remember that room filled with Animi (Animuses?) during the escape scene at the beginning of ACII? That’s the Templar-controlled company’s training ground for new, counter-assassins. They’ve been uploading the skills that actual Assassins like Desmond have been unlocking into their most adept pupils, and their training simulation is our multiplayer.

However it fits into the story, it looks like a good time. I’ve heard it described as a modern videogame take on hide-and-seek, and that seems accurate. But with more stabbing. Oh, and two new characters were revealed: a Blacksmith and a Soldier, and based on the Q&A that followed the panel, there’ll likely be more revealed between now and the game’s November release.

Some more highlights from the fan Q & A section:

Q: Will there be more Desmond gameplay in ACB?
A: Yes, it’ll take a very unexpected turn. Things will change quite a bit in the present day. He’ll also be changing his look.
Q: Will there ever be any female assassins?
A: Yes, wait for November.
Q: Will we learn more about the ancient assassins from that room where you place the seals you collect in ACII?
A: Yes. Everything that we have started will resolve… Eventually.
Q: How many multiplayer characters total?
A: A lot. (but not Ezio or Altair, as that wouldn’t make sense in the scope of the story)
Q: Any plans for DLC?
A: Yes, there are plans in the works.

Oh, one last thing. That Russian/red star Assassins logo that popped up a week or two ago was not a hint that the next Assassin’s Creed game would take you to Russia. It’s actually a new comic book based on the Tunguska explosion hinted at in ACII.